RL Blogs
By Optimization Specialist Robert
Dec 10, 2018Leverage cross-functional team-work to tackle optimization variables related to FCC gasoline properties. |
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Every great planning analyst started off as a process engineer. So with confidence, I can state that the majority of process engineers do not really know how to set unit operating targets on their own.
Through collaboration of refinery planning, process, and control engineers, a refinery can truly define optimal operating targets. Whether you believe this or not, I will discuss several decision points around FCC gasoline stream optimization to support my view.
If I were to give one piece of advice, I would suggest that every good refiner should always ask “what is the value of the alternative disposition?” in order to understand how to set appropriate targets. Use this step-by-step guide of questions to properly frame the analysis:
Light Cat Naphtha
We will begin our analysis by focusing on the Light Cat Naphtha stream. How many variables do you control related to the LCN stream? If you are a process engineer worth your salt, you will say at least half a dozen for this one stream alone!
If this response surprises you, let’s work through my series of questions above to frame the analysis.
Heavy Cat Naphtha
Similar to our analysis on LCN, Heavy Cat Naphtha distillation has just as many considerations as well. As many of the LCN/HCN distillation variables were discussed above, I’ll now cover HCN/LCO and HCN routing factors below.
Now that we’ve covered half-a-dozen considerations for each FCC gasoline product stream, you can see how proper optimization requires team-work to solve.
A great process engineer understands how to capture value through flexibility of unit operations. A great refinery economics provides direction on where market opportunities exist. Combine the efforts of both, and unleash the full potential of value in FCC gasoline distillation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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